Bears and 49ers Contract Troubles

     It's not exactly Ditka vs Walsh, but the battle between the Bears and the 49ers over the proposed trade of Lance Briggs does have some drama to it.

     According to Fox Sports' Jay Glazer , the Bears will bring a case to the commissioner's office regarding potential tampering problems between the 49ers and Brigg's agent Drew Rosenhaus.  At issue was a proposed trade between the two teams involving Briggs heading out west.  The problem is, according to the Bears, the 49ers began talks with Rosenhaus about the deal before the team granted permission to do so.

     Glazer writes that should the 49ers be found guilty, they could lose draft picks as well as face a fine. 

     In the end, the Bears did get Briggs back as he signed a new deal with the team this offseason. 

     It's not exactly "spygate" but I can see where problems with a situation like this could arise.  While these talks took place prior to the trade deadline, the Bears knew they were going to be faced with a tough decision to make on Briggs at the end of the season.  Their thinking had to be that if they could make a good trade they would, but if it wasn't a good deal they would be faced with the prospect of having to pony up some very good money if they intended to keep him.  Contract talks with the 49ers that early could have gotten the ball rolling as far as his asking price when the season was up if the deal couldn't get done.  This could have given Rosenhaus a figure and other incentives that he could have worked up come the off-season and the Bears would rather not have something like that dictated to them.  It, in essence, could tell Briggs what he might be worth on the open market well in advance of his even becoming a free agent.  Sure, figures are thrown out there by agents and analysts and people do have an idea of what the market might produce, but to have a firm figure-or close to it- already established before talks are allowed to begin is not a good thing to have happen, especially if you are the team who faces losing the player.